With only one injury in the squad and Pedj Bojic out suspended after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign away to Wellington Phoenix on the weekend, Arnold has opted to keep his men alert heading into the game.

Arnold put his team through their paces on Boxing Day ahead of the round 13 showdown.

The last time Central Coast Mariners played Sydney FC was in Hyundai A-League Round 5. On that occasion, the Mariners smashed the Sky Blues 7-2, with top goalscorer Daniel McBreen netting the club's first ever A-League hat-trick.